Bottle lifter



United States Patent G F BOTTLE LIFTER Frank Edward Fowler, Athens, Ga. 7 Application March 16, 1953, Serial No. 342,343

Claims. (Cl. 29487.26)

The .present invention relates generally to devices for lifting a plurality of bottles, or the like, and more particularly to an improved bottle lifter finding special adaptation to lifting a plurality of soft drink bottles, and the like.

There has long existed the need for a simple, eflicient, inexpensive bottle lifter for removing empty bottles from a case and placing them on a table for subsequent transfer to a washing machine, or the like. Bottle lifters heretofore devised have incorporated obstructions in the bottle top receiving area, have incorporated structure not readily lubricated, are bulky and difficult to employ, and are generally unsuitable for efliciently handling bottles.

The present novel bottle litter is constructed to overcome the deficiencies in existing devices, and, briefly, includes three stationary rods, forming with two end plates a rigid triangular-shaped unit. A movable rod cooperates with each stationary rod, two movable rods and two stationary rods functioning to grippingly engage the necks of a plurality of bottles, and the third movable rod and the third stationary rod functioning as an actuator for the other rods and as handling means for the device. Vertically reciprocatable camming brackets are provided for movement of the bottle neck engaging movable rods upon vertical movement of the actuating movable rod.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel bottle lifter device which overcomes thedeficiencies in existing units.

Another object is to provide a novel bottle lifter device for handling a plurality of bottles which incorporates self-aligning gripping rods having no obstructions which would cause chipping of the tops of the bottles.

Another object is to provide a novel bottle lifter for handling bottles in which all of the individual parts are replaceable and in which the ends of the moving rods are supplied with removable replaceable bushings.

Another object is to provide a novel bottle lifter incorporating novel camming construction for moving rods into clamping engagement with bottle necks and for moving the rods back to their fully released positions.

Another object is to provide a novel bottle lifter having stationary bottle neck engaging rods which may be loosened, rotated a predetermined degree and then retightened to present a new wearing surface to the bottle necks.

Another object is to provide a novel bottle lifter which is free of obstructions between end plates to facilitate use of the device with cartons of bottles, individually or grouped in cases.

Another object is to provide a novel bottle lifter which is light in weight, yet strong and constructed to give 2,776,358 l atented Jan. 8, 1957 7 ing parts, which may be readily employed with minimum instruction in lifting empty bottles from a case for deposit upon magazine or unscrambler type tables for subsequent movement to a bottle washing, or other machine, and which is otherwise formed to accomplish the units intended main objective of efliciently handling bottles.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a novel bottle lifter constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present inventron;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. '4 is a vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 6 is a view of the inner face of one of the rod camrning brackets forming a part of the present device;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a part of the present unit, bottles in broken lines being shown in operative relation thereto;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but with the movable rods cammed into operative'relationship with bottle-s illustrated in broken lines; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the end portion of a movable rod, illustrating the readily removable bushing.

Referring to the drawing more particularly by reference numerals, it) indicates generally a bottle lifter device incorporating the teachings of the present invention. Broadly, the bottle lifter device 10 includes opposed end plates 12, three stationary rods 14, two movable bottle neck engaging rods 16, a movable actuating rod 18, and two rod camming brackets 20.

The plates l2 are generally triangular in form and are spaced apart by the stationary rods 14, there being one at each corner, as is clear from the drawing. A rigid structure is obtained by tap screws 22 which extend through suitable apertures in the plates 12 and threaded- 'ly engage threaded wells 24 formed in the ends of the rods 14, as is particularly illustrated at the lower right-- hand corner of Fig. 2. The tap screws 22 may be looscued to permit rotation of said rods 14 to new positions when wear develops on use of the device 10.

Each plate 12. has a vertical slot 26 and a horizontal slot 23, as is clear from Figs. 3 and 4, the former of which guidingly receive the rod 18 for vertical moveme'nt, and the latter of which guidingly receive the rods 16 for transverse movement. Each plate 12 has also a pair of spaced lugs 30 extending outwardly from the outer face which support a bar 32 secured thereto by meansof screws 34.

Therods 16 and the rod 18 are supplied at the ends with removable bushings 36 which threadedly engage reduced threaded portions 38 of said rods (Fig. 9). Hence, the bearing portions of the movable rods 16 andiS are protected against excessive wear, since the bushings 36 are of steel, or other suitable material, whereas the remaining parts of the device 10 are preferably, of a lightweight aluminum alloy.

The rod 13 extends through the slots 26 and supports at each end one of the rod camming brackets 20, a cotter pin 40 extending diametrically through each end of the rod 18 and through the bushing 36 to maintain the parts in assembled relation. Each bracket 20 is generally triangular in form, as is clear from Figs. 5 and 6. Each bracket 20 includes a bearing collar 42 and diverging camming channels 44 defined by the central Y-shaped web 46 and the outer diverging Webs 48. As is clear from Figs.'3 and 8, the free ends of the rods 16 extend into the rod camming channels. The bars"32 arid lugs'"30 provide cages for the brackets. 20.

In operation, it is manifest .that movement of the rod 18 vertically toward the top stationary rod 14 raisesthe brackets' 20 vertically and moves 'the rods 16 from the innermost positions of'Fig. 3 toward outermostpositions limited either by the slots' 28 or the position of the camming channels 44 in the brackets'20, as may be desired. Upon release of the rod 18, both it and the brackets 20 will return by gravity to the positions of Fig. 3, thereby returning the rods'16 to'the innermost or bottle-release positions. In the release. positions, the rods 16 are relatively widely spaced from the rods14 to render disposition of the'device' over irregularly located bottles more easily accomplished, and to reduce chipping to a minimum.

In using the device 10, it is placed above a case of empty soda water bottles withthe rods 16 in the open positions of Fig.3. 'Thereupon, the device 10 is lowered until the rods 16and adjacent rods-14 are disposed at opposite sides of the necks of two rows of empty bottles. The rod 18 is then moved upwardly toward the upper rod 14 which effects a clamping engagement of the rods 16 and adjacent rods 14 with the necks of the bottles, so that all engaged bottles may be raised from the empty case and placed upon a table from which they will be taken to a washing, orother machine.

It is manifest that the device 10 may be used to lift bottles from cardboard cartons of the half dozen or larger size grouped in a case, or independently. The handles of the cartons will extend between the rods 16.

The device'10 may' be used with one hand, although two hands may be used if 'desired. Obviously, the bottle lifter device 10 may be employed for a multitude of uses, although it finds particular'adaptation in feeding empty bottles from cases to magazine or unscrambler-type tables for subsequent passage to washing or other machines.

It is clear from the foregoing, taken with the drawing, that the present bottle lifter device'10 may be readily disposed in operative relation to bottles without chipping or otherwise injuring the same and that a positive grip is elfected for lifting the bottles.

t is apparent that'there has been provided a novel bottle lifter device'whi'ch fulfills" the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understoodthat' the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing have been given by way of illustration and'exatnple. It is alsoto' be understood that changes inform "of the elements, rearrangement of parts, and substitutionof equivalent elements, which will be obvious to those skilledinthe art, are contemplated as within the scope'of the'present invention which is limited only ;by the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is:

l. A- bottle lifter device comprising rod supporting means, a stationary bottle neck engaging rodmounted in said rod supporting means against'bodilymovement, a movable bottle neck engaging ro-d'mounted in said rod supporting means adjacent said'stationary rod, and means for effecting positive inovementof said movablerod bodily toward or away from said stationaryrod.

2. A bottle lifter device comprisingrod supporting means, a pair 'of stationarybo't'tle neck engaging rods mounted in said rod'snpporting means against'bodily movement, a movable bottleneck engaging rod mounted in said supporting means adjacent each stationaryvrod, and means foreffecting movement of said movable rods toward or away from said stationary rods including a third movable rod and eamming brackets rotatively mounted thereon and operatively engaging said movablebottle neck engaging rods.

'3. A' bottle lifterdevice comprising rod supporting means, a pair of'stationary bottle neck engaging rods mounted in said rod supporting means against bodily movement, a movable bottle neck engaging rod mounted in said supporting means adjacent each stationary rod, said movable rods having innermost positions of movement spaced apart a predetermined amount, and means for effecting movement of said movable rods toward or away from said stationary rods, said movement efiecting means being efiective upon the ends of said movable rods and being out of the way "ofthe handles of a bottle carrier carton when such handles are disposed between said movable rods.

4. A bottle lifter device comprising rod supporting means, a pair of stationary bottle neck engaging rods mounted in said-rodsupporting means against bodily movement, said stationary rods being adjustable rotationally to permit movement to new positions upon wear through use, a movable bottle neck engaging rod mounted insaid supporting means adjacent each stationary rod, and means for. effecting movement of said rnovable rods toward or away f-rom'saidstationary rods.

5. bottle lifter device comprising opposed end plates and two spaced lower rods and an upper rod, said three rods being rigidly secured to and spacing said end plates, armovable rod mounted in said end plates adjacent each lower stationary rod, said two movable rods and said two spaced lower rods being disposed in a common substantially horizontal plane,and means for moving said movable rods bodily toward or away from said stationary rods to. engage and release thenecksof aligned bottles.

6. A'bottle lifter device comprising opposed endplates and two spaced lower rods and an upper rod, said three rods being rigidly secured to and spacing said end plates,

' a,movablc rod mounted in said end plates adjacent each lower stationary rod, said two movable rods and said two spaced lower rodsbeing disposed in. a common substantially horizontal; plane, means for moving said movable rods toward or away trom said stationary rods to engage -and release the necks. of aligned bottles, said means including a third'movable rod mounted on the plates for vertical movement toward and away from said upper stationary rod, and means connecting said third movable rod with said first two movable rods forpositive movement of said first two mentioned rods toward said lower stationary rods for clamping engagement with the'necks of aligned bottles. 7

7. A bottle lifter device comprising. opposed end plates and two spaced lower rods and an upper rod, said three rods being rigidly secured 'to and spacing said end plates, a movable rod mounted in said'endplates adjacent each lower stationary rod, said two movable rods and said two spaced lower rods being. disposed in a common substantially. horizontal plane, and means. for moving said movable rods toward or .away from said stationary rods to engage and release the necks ofaligned bottles, said means including a thirdsmovablerod mounted in said plates beneath said top stationary rod, and acamming bracketpivotally mounted on each end of said third movable rod and having camming channels engaged by the ends of said-first two movable rods for movement of said first two mentioned movable rods toward the said lower stationary rods -upon vertical movement of said third movable rod.

"8. A bottle-lifter devicecomprising rod supporting means, a pair of stationary bottle neck engaging rods mountedinsaidrod supporting means against bodily movement,.la .movablev bottle neck engaging rod mounted in said supporting -means adjacent each stationary. rod, each movable rod including a removable bushing .at each end for absorbing wear, and means forefieeting movement of said movable rods toward or away from said stationary rods.

9. A bottle lifter device comprising rod supporting means, apair of stationarybottle neck engaging rods mounted in said rod supporting means against bodily movement, a movable bottle neck engaging rod mounted in said supporting means adjacent each stationary rod, and means for efiecting movement of said movable rods toward or away from said stationary rods including a third movable rod and camming brackets pivotally mounted thereon and operatively engaging said movable bottle neck engaging rods, each camming bracket including a pair of diverging camming channels receiving the ends of said movable bottle neck engaging rods.

10. A bottle lifter device comprising rod supporting means, a stationary bottle neck engaging rod mounted in said rod supporting means against bodily movement, a movable bottle neck engaging rod mounted in said supporting means adjacent said stationary rod, and means for positively moving said movable rod toward or away from said stationary rod including camming means engaging the said movable rod and means'for moving said camming means; said camming means engaging the ends of said movable rod.

Schwarz July 22, 1952 Johnson Oct. 13, 1953 

